Burlington weekly free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1866-1928, 1887-06-24


he is in my power"
"John," said jess, as soon as the door had
closed, 81 am afraid of that man. If
had understood that he had anything to dc
with the pass | would not have taken it.
thought that the writing was familiar to me-
Oh, dearl l wish we had stopped at Pre-.
toria."
"What can't be cured must be endured. >
said John, again. "The only thing to do is
to make the best of 1t, and get on as we can.
You will be all right anyhow, but he hates
me like poison. I suppose that it is Oh nc.
count of Bessie"
ayes that's it," said jess; che is madly in
love with Bessie, or was.r
at is curious to think that a man like that
can be in love-" remarked John, as he lit his
pipe, "but it only shows what queer mix
lures people are. l say, jess, if this fellow
hates me SO, what made him give me the
pass, eh' What's his game"
jess shook her head as she answered, II
don't know, John; | don't like it."
~ suppose he can't mean to murder me; lie
did try it on once, you know"
"Oh, no, john" she answered, with a sort
| Of cry, mot that"
"Well, don't know that it would matter
much," he said, with an approach to cheer
|
save one deal of worry, and only anticipate
things bit. But there, l frightened you,
and dare say that he is, for the present, at
any rate, an honest man, and has no iaten-
lions on my person. Looi,i there is Mouti
calling us. | wonder if those brutes have
given him anything to eat Wen collar the
rest of this leg of mutton on chance. At any
rate, Frank Muller sha'nt starve me TO
| death" and with a cheerful laugh he left the
| room.
! In a few minutes they were on their road
again. As they started Frank Muller came
| up, took Off his hat and informed them that
he would probably join them on the morrow
below Heidelberg, in which town they would
find every preparation to enable them to
spend the night comfortably. If he did not
! join them it would be because he was detained
on duty. In that case the two men bad his or
ders TO escort them safely to Mooifontoin,
and, he added significantly, 81 do not think
| you will be troubled with any further impo-
| liteness."
In another moment lie had galloped OF on
his great black horse, leaving the pair consid-
erably mystified and not al little relieved.
| "Well," said John, "at any raJc that does
not look like foul play unless, indeed, he has
gone on to prepa warm reception fer us"
| jess shrugged her shoulders; she could not
make it out and then they settled Themselves
down to their long and lonely drive. They
had forty odd miles to cover, but the guides,
or rather the guard, would only consent to
their outspanning once, which they did on
the open veldt a little before sunset AT sun
down they inspanned again and started across
| the darkenng veldt The road was in q
shocking state, and until the moon got up,
| -l,t f,l, Il ii n
both difficult and dangerous. After that
things were little better; and at last, about
| IL o'clock, they got into Heidelberg The
| town seemed almost deserted Evidently the
| great body of the Beers were at the front and
| had only left guard at their seat of govern
| ment.
"Where are we to outspan?" asked John of
the Unicorn, who was jogging on alongside,
| apparently half asleep.
"At the hotel" was the short reply, and
thither they went, and thankful enough they
| were to get there and to find, from the lights
III the windows that the people were still up
Standing at the inn door, holding light
above her head, they found pleasant look
| ing Englishwoman, who welcomed them
| heartily.
Frank Muller was here three hours ago
| and told me to expect YOU" she said "and
very glad am to see an English face again,
can tell you. My name is Gooch. Tell me,
is my husband all right in Pictorial He went
up there with his wagon just before the siege
began, and have not heard a word from him
since"
"Ies," said John, che is all right. He was
slightly wounded in the shoulder month ago,
but he is quite recovered"
"Oh, thank Cod" said the poor woman. be-
frin 10 nrxr. a
was dead-to torment me, | suppose Come
in, miss; there is some hot supper ready when
you have washed your hands The BOYS will
see to the horses"
Accordingly they entered, and were made
as happy as good supper, a hearty welcome
and comfortable beds could make people in
their condition
In the early morning one of their estimable
escort sent i'll message to say that they were
not to start before 1870, as their horses re-
CURED more rest, so they got several hours
more III bed than they had expected, and
anybody who has ever made journey in a
post cart In South Africa can understand
what blessing that was. AT they had
breakfast, and as the clock struck 1880 Mouti
brought the cart round, and with it came the
two Beers.
WELL Mrs. Gooch," said John, "what do
we owe youl"
Nothing, Capt. Mel nothing. If you only
knew what weight you have taken off my
mind! Besides, we are quite ruined: the
Beers have taken all my husbands cattle and
horses and until last week six of them were
CHARTERED on me without paying farthing,
soft makes no odds to me-"
"Never mind, Mrs. Gooch," said John,
cheerfully, "the government will compensate
you when this business is over, no doubt"
Mrs. Gooch shook her head prophetically.
"Never farthing do expect to see," she
said. "lf only can get my husband back,
and we can escape out of this wicked place
with our lives, | shall be thankful. And
look here, Capt Mel, l have put up a basket
full of food-bread, meat and hard boiled
eggs and bottle of three star brandy They
may be useful to you and the young lady be-
fore you get home. l don't know where You
will sleep tonight, for the English are still
holding Standerton, SO you won't be able to
stop there, and you can't get right through.
No, don't thank me, | could not do less
Good by-gOOd by. miss. | hoDa Won will c,at